Written Answers Wednesday 24 February 2010

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions and on what dates the Glasgow 2014 Strategic Group has met since the award of the games to Glasgow; whether meetings have been (a) cancelled or (b) postponed, and, if so, for what reason.

Shona Robison: The Glasgow 2014 Strategic Group has met 14 times since Glasgow was selected as the host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly on the 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

  Details are as follows:

  

2007
2008
2009
2010


15 November
31 January
26 March
28 January


28 November
21 February
28 May
 


 
24 April
24 September
 


 
4 September
28 October
 


 
30 October
26 November
 


 
18 December
 
 



  In addition, a total of four meetings have been rescheduled. Meetings planned for 27 March 2008, 29 May 2008 and 30 July 2009 were postponed as all business was able to be conducted through correspondence. A further meeting planned for 29 January 2009 was cancelled as two non-government members of the group were unable to attend.

2014 Commonwealth Games

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on preparatory work in connection with the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: The Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee (OC) is responsible for the delivery of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. At 15 February 2010 the Scottish Government had provided the OC with £8,256,108 towards the cost of staging the games. This contribution supplements funding provided by Glasgow City Council and commercial revenues raised by the OC.

  The Scottish Government’s overall contribution to the games budget, at 2007 prices, will be £275.8 million plus a £20 million reserve to be held in case of exceptional circumstances.

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employers have successfully applied for the £1,000 incentive offered by the Invest in an Apprentice scheme running until 26 March 2010.

Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. However, for your convenience I have set out the information requested below.

  Due to the extremely positive response from employers, Skills Development Scotland closed the Apprenticeship Grant Scheme to new applications on 5 February.

  At close of business on 10 February 2010 Skills Development Scotland had received 1,115 applications from employers to receive the Apprenticeship Grant. At that stage, 678 of these applications had been approved by Skills Development Scotland, providing support for 2,260 individual apprentices. The remaining applications were still being processed by Skills Development Scotland.

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the £2,000 incentives have been awarded to employers for creating modern apprenticeships in the manufacturing, food and drink, textiles or energy sectors for 16 to 19-year-olds.

Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS). For your convenience, at 18 February 2010 SDS had approved a total of 90 applications for the Invest in an apprentice scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises recruiting a 16 to 19-year-old apprentice in the manufacturing, food and drink, energy and textile sectors. Of these 90 approvals, 40 were to employers in the manufacturing sector, 31 in the food and drink sector and 19 in the energy sector.

Arts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the traditional arts industry.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government along with others across the public sector continue to support the traditional arts industry throughout Scotland. The Scottish Arts Council, as the main funding body for the arts in Scotland, supports a variety of traditional arts organisations through its foundation, project and flexible funding arrangements. It also provides support for individual traditional artists through creative and professional development funding. In future Creative Scotland will assume this role. The Traditional Arts Working Group has recently published its report providing recommendations for the future public sector support of the traditional arts in Scotland. The Scottish Government has welcomed the report and will be responding in full to the recommendations later this year. The report is published at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/28100441/0 .

Cancer

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to provide Free prescriptions for cancer patients over a one-year period.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30968 on 4 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Community Learning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that community learning and development staff responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence outwith schools receive the necessary training.

Keith Brown: The approach taken by community learning and development (CLD) staff and their skill set align closely with those needed for Curriculum for Excellence. CLD is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Management Board by Duncan Simpson, Chair of the CLD Standards Council.

  The Scottish Government is currently encouraging the development of the CLD workforce in all settings and sectors through the establishment of the CLD Standards Council and the CLD workforce Up-skilling Programme. This programme is supporting local employers, through CLD Partnerships across Scotland, to produce workforce development strategies and widen Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities. This will support employers in their responsibility to ensure that staff have the skills and training they need, including a focus on how they can contribute to CfE.

Direct Payments

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what hourly direct payments rates are paid by each local authority.

Shona Robison: We do not collect this information centrally. In line with our guidance, it is for local authorities to determine the direct payment rate. This ensures that local authorities can take into account local conditions and workforce considerations.

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding of the 2008-09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Drug Use that the reported use of cocaine had increased between 2006 and 2008-09 among adults aged 16 to 59 and what action it plans to take.

Fergus Ewing: The 2008-09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Drug Use found that reported use of cocaine amongst adults aged 16 to 59 years in the year prior to survey remained stable in 2006 and 2008-09 (3.7% in both 2006 and 2008-09). That said even though the rate has remained stable it remains too high and the Scottish Government is not complacent about cocaine use in Scotland.

  Educating Scots about the risk and harms of drug misuse in a way that is relevant and meaningful to them is key. Know the Score - our drug prevention campaign - has been both successful and innovative through it’s website, helpline and cocaine awareness weekends, in ensuring that people are aware of and understand the risks and dangers in taking these drugs, presenting it in a factual, non-glamorising and credible way.

  On 22 January 2010, I launched the latest "Know the Score" campaign highlighting the dangers of Cocaine. This campaign raises awareness of the risks associated with cocaine such as increased heart rate, chest pains, paranoia and stroke. The campaign highlights these messages through cinema advertisement, spotify ads, outdoor media and online support to dispel the myth that cocaine is a "safe party drug".

  We also continue to support the Scottish Police Service in their efforts to disrupt drug dealing and organised crime groups by investing in policing and have set up the Serious Organised Crime (SOC) Taskforce. In June 2008 the SOC Taskforce published a national strategy Letting Our Communities Flourish. This new Strategy has been supported with a major boost of around £4 million over two years to the SCDEA budget, which will be used to recruit around 80 new specialist police officers and civilian staff.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that work-based learning providers responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence receive the necessary training.

Michael Russell: Skills Development Scotland has been tasked to work with training providers to ensure that all provision enables young people undertaking a national training programme to develop the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence.

  Key documents have been sent to employer organisations and employers have been involved in Curriculum for Excellence support events. For example, five support events for Building the Curriculum 4 are planned for March 2010, and will involve local employers working with schools, as well as representation from Chambers of Commerce, the Support Training Action Group (STAG) and Scottish Training Federation (STF).

  STAG and STF are also involved in national training programmes linking with enterprise in education. Determined to Succeed (the Scottish Government’s Enterprise in Education strategy) has worked in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Training Federation and the Scottish Training Action Group to identify appropriate support for their members to promote understanding of enterprising approaches to delivery of Curriculum for Excellence and the effectiveness of such approaches in securing positive outcomes for learners.

  As part of the Employer Engagement strand of Determined to Succeed, local authorities have been supported to undertake work directly with work based learning providers, enabling them to address and engage with developments in education including Curriculum for Excellence.

  EEBL (Enterprise in Education Business Links) teacher placement in business also provides opportunities for sharing and joint development opportunities around Curriculum for Excellence.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the recommendations in Audit Scotland’s Review of major capital projects in Scotland in June 2008 regarding reporting publicly on the progress of major capital projects (a) have been implemented and (b) remain outstanding.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking forward a programme of measures to develop the management of major capital projects, in response to recommendations by Audit Scotland and the Public Audit Committee. The Permanent Secretary provided an update on progress to the Public Audit Committee on the 21 December 2009.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans for enhanced reporting of government spending include providing a planned capital expenditure schedule for each major capital project supported by the Scottish Government and, if so, with what regularity it will be updated.

John Swinney: Under its plans to provide greater information on government expenditure the Scottish Government has committed to publish online all items of expenditure above £25,000. This scheme will commence with the publication of our expenditure for April 2010 and will continue on a monthly basis thereafter.

  The Scottish Government provides information about its capital programme annually in the Draft Budget, over a three year horizon through the Scottish Spending Review, and over a ten year horizon through the Infrastructure Investment Plan. The Government’s regular reports to the Public Audit Committee set out the planned expenditure profile and timescale for major capital projects which we are taking forward.

Football

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total funding was from all public sources to support youth, junior, amateur and professional football in the most recent year for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The total amount of funding to support grassroots and the youth development of Scottish football in 2008-09 was £4.099 million. This figure includes both Scottish Government funding and National Lottery funding through sportscotland.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to deal with gastrointestinal disease in young children, given its reported relationship with behaviours and symptoms associated with autism.

Shona Robison: The National Delivery Plan for Children and Young People’s Specialist Services in Scotland, published last year, recognised gastrointestinal disease as an area requiring investment. £1.112 million has been allocated across Scotland to provide improved and sustainable services for all children with these conditions, and further investment is proposed for 2010-11.

  There is limited evidence available as to the relationship between gastrointestinal disease and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), however Scottish doctors are currently researching methods to measure the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with ASD.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30173 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 January 2010, for what reason per capita spend in NHS Western Isles in 2008-09 was £480 higher than in NHS Orkney and £568 higher than in NHS Shetland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The per capita spend is calculated on the basis of the total spend by each of the boards in 2008-09 including elements of non-recurring funding.

  The bulk of funding made available to NHS boards is allocated on the basis of formula. The formula assesses each NHS board’s relative need for funding using information about its population size and characteristics that influence the need for healthcare in terms of hospital services, community services and GP prescribing. To prevent turbulence, the move to formula target shares is being phased in over a number of years to ensure that no NHS board loses out. In 2008-09, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles received baseline allocations which were above their formula target shares and NHS Orkney received a baseline allocation below its formula target share.

  The variations between the boards’ per capita spend reflects the relative healthcare needs of each board’s resident population under the allocation formula, each board’s current allocation of funds relative to its formula target allocation and the impact of the inclusion of elements of non-recurring funding.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are eligible for the NHS Minor Ailment Service.

Shona Robison: People who are exempt from paying prescription charges are eligible for the Minor Ailment Service. We estimate this to be approximately 2.9 million people.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is eligible for the NHS Minor Ailment Service.

Shona Robison: People who are exempt from paying prescription charges are eligible for the Minor Ailment Service. The list of exempted categories is specified in paragraphs (a) to (i) of regulation 7(1) of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/27).

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance there is regarding the use of hospital ward shared toilet facilities by a patient confirmed to be carrying the Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase organism.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards are required to follow Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICP) and specifically SICP guidance on control of the environment when managing patients with the ESBL organism. This guidance is available on the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) website using the following link http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/guidelinedetail.aspx?id=31229 .

Healthcare Associated Infections

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance there is regarding the admission of a patient confirmed as an MRSA carrier to a ward with at-risk patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: In addition to Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICP), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have also published guidance on transmission based precautions (TBP) which is available through their website using the following link:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/infection-control/transmission-based-precautions/contact/mic-p-contact-2009-04.pdf.

  TBP are implemented when patients are either suspected or known to be infected with a specific infectious agent or when the aim is to prevent and control spread, particularly in relation to healthcare associated infections (HAI).

Higher Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans by the University of Edinburgh to sell off land on the Moray House School of Education campus.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Michael Russell: As an autonomous institution, the University of Edinburgh is responsible for managing its own estate. The Scottish Government does not have any role in such matters. From discussions with the Scottish Funding Council and the University, we understand that the estates strategy for the University of Edinburgh does not currently include plans to dispose of its Moray House School campus.

Justice

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people or organisations in Scotland have been prosecuted for failure to comply with provisions of EU legislation in each of the last 10 years.

Frank Mulholland: This information is not held. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database records details of specific charges. It is not possible to extract details of offences which have originated from European Union legislation. Some offences are derived from regulations, which do not require to be transposed into domestic law. Other offences are derived from directives and decisions which do require domestic legislation. The domestic statute does not necessarily identify the EU background to the legislation.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase access to NHS counselling and psychotherapy services.

Shona Robison: We are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS boards to expand and increase access to psychological therapies for all ages in a range of settings.

  We have already established a Psychological Therapies Group (PTG) to administer the implementation of the advice in The Matrix - a tool for NHS boards to use in reviewing available evidence and in considering which psychological interventions might best be used to meet local need and demand. Recently formed sub-groups of the PTG oversee The Matrix’s continuous updating and expansion into other key priority areas in mental health.

  NES is working to increase the provision of training in evidence based interventions which are effective for depression (at both certificate and diploma level) such as CBT and other therapies, as well as funding Psychological Therapies Training Co-ordinator posts in boards to provide the educational infrastructure necessary to ensure training and supervision are well organised, sustainable and have maximum service impact.

  We are committed to developing a HEAT target for access to psychological therapies for announcement in 2011-12.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the increased need for NHS counselling and psychotherapy services.

Shona Robison: We have a specific commitment to expand and improve access to psychological therapies for all ages. We are working closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS boards to deliver this commitment and meet patient’s needs better and sooner. Part of our strategy involves enhancing capacity within the service, and training current NHS staff to deliver a range of evidence based interventions.

  We are committed to developing a HEAT target for access to psychological therapies over this year for announcement in 2011-12.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for patients seeking access to NHS counselling and psychotherapy services.

Shona Robison: This information is not collected centrally. This Scottish Government is committed to developing a referral to treatment target for psychological therapies, and as part of that work is developing information systems to track waiting times for those therapies that may be covered by the target.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children and adolescents have been admitted to adult mental health beds in each year since 2007.

Shona Robison: The highest number of these admissions are of young males aged 15 and over where admissions to adult wards are usually for short periods at times of crisis where there are concerns about the safety of the person. In some cases it will also be the case that admission to an adult facility is judged by clinicians to be the most appropriate setting for the young person, taking account of their needs and safety and the safety of others. The small increase in 2008 is also likely to be in part as a result of the closure of the inpatient facility for young people in Gartnavel Royal Hospital and the opening of the new facility in Skye House as for a transition period admissions were redirected to adult facilities. We expect to see improvement in 2009-10 figures.

  

2006-07
186


2007-08
142


2008-09
149



  We are also working closely with NHS boards to ensure that where a young person is admitted to an adult ward their care is specifically tailored to their needs.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the two pilots to help improve access to self-help therapies for people with mild to moderate depression or anxiety will include the use of counselling.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing access to psychological therapies for those with mental illness.

  The NHS Living Life Pilot, being run by NHS24 for the Scottish Government, offers CBT Self Help Coaching by telephone and three CBT Therapists are employed for this purpose at NHS Living Life.

  The Widening Access to Self Help Therapies (WISH) Programme is hosted for the Scottish Government by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This programme is designed to offer multiple ways of accessing CBT Self Help, such as via CD Rom, college courses and website access.

  This material is available to be used by people themselves, or by people offering care and support, including counsellors.

Multiple Sclerosis

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps ministers are taking to make the drug, low dose naltrexone (LDN), available to people with multiple sclerosis.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what obstacles there are to the drug, low dose naltrexone (LDN), being offered more widely to people with multiple sclerosis.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what process or procedures need to be followed to allow the drug, low dose naltrexone (LDN), to be offered more widely to people with multiple sclerosis.

Shona Robison: Licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has advised that low dose naltrexone (LDN) is not licensed for use in the UK for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

  Before a medicine can receive a marketing authorisation (licence) in the UK, the manufacturer must submit supporting data to the MHRA or the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) demonstrating that the quality, safety and efficacy of the product are satisfactory for its intended use. The decision to seek a marketing authorisation is a commercial decision for the manufacturer.

  However, there is provision in both UK and European legislation which allow doctors, on their own direct personal responsibility, to prescribe a medicinal product specially prepared and for administration to a particular patient to meet a special clinical need. It is possible for a pharmaceutical company to produce LDN formulations to supply pharmacists, at the request of a doctor, for use by an individual on a "named patient" basis. This would be a matter for the individual patient and their doctor to discuss and consider whether the use of LDN is appropriate for their particular clinical need.

Population

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken on the potential impact of an aging population on the future composition of the workforce.

John Swinney: In 2005, the Scottish Government and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) co-funded Scotland’s Demography Research Programme, which was also supported by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). The programme aimed to develop greater understanding of the key aspects of fertility, migration and ageing to inform the evidence base on demographic issues in Scotland.

  The programme was completed in 2007 and the research outputs were published on the Scottish Government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/by-topic/public-services-and-gvt/Demography-Research-Prog.

  This included research by Strathclyde University on the Macroeconomic Impacts of Demographic Change in Scotland, and research by Stirling University on Scotland’s Ageing Population. Following this, GROS and the Scottish Government commissioned Strathclyde University to update their analysis to incorporate the 2006-based population projections. This analysis was published on the Scottish Government website in August 2008:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/by-topic/public-services-and-gvt/Demography-Research-Prog/Macroeconomic-Impacts.

  The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has also produced analysis which considers potential changes to the composition of Scotland’s population using the most recent population projections. In October 2009, GROS produced a paper providing a detailed analysis of the 2008-based population projections for Scotland:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based-publication/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based.pdf.

  In February 2010, GROS published an analysis of the 2008-based Population Projections for Scottish Areas: 

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based-publication/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based.pdf.

Prescriptions

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many exercises on prescription schemes there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: This information is not available. However, we have commissioned an audit of exercise referral schemes (ERS) across Scotland which will be completed by summer this year. The audit will supply us with key information on a number of different aspects of ERS, one of which will be the number of ERS currently running in Scotland.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage growth in demand for medicines has been projected in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15 in determining the free prescription policy.

Shona Robison: Year on year growth in dispensed medications between 1999-2000 and 2008-09 has ranged from 2.9% to 5%. We have seen no evidence thus far to suggest that growth will be out with this range in the specified years.

Prison Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish prisons were eligible to participate in the Naloxone Investigation (N-ALIVE) Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial; if so, whether any prisons requested to participate, and how many trials in participating prisons were deemed a success.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Naloxone Randomised Control Trial (N-ALIVE) is due to begin in all Scottish prisons in summer 2010, pending ethical approval, with the exception of HM Prisons Inverness, Dumfries and Edinburgh.

  HM Prison Inverness is currently involved in the provision of naloxone in NHS Highland. HM Prisons Dumfries and Edinburgh are planning for the provision of naloxone in NHS Dumfries and Galloway and NHS Lothian respectively.

Schools

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established the sport volunteer programme with schools and after-school clubs as stated in the SNP manifesto and, if so, how many volunteers have been recruited in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government are working through our manifesto commitments having already delivered a significant number of measures to make Scotland wealthier, safer, healthier, smarter and greener.

  We have delivered over 30,000 volunteers in 2008-09 who are directly involved in delivering activity sessions to school pupils outwith the school day as part of the Active Schools programme.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30032 by Fergus Ewing on 13 January 2010, whether it plans to second any of its staff to anti-sectarianism projects in Scotland.

Fergus Ewing: There are no plans to second Scottish Government staff to any of the organisations delivering anti-sectarian projects in Scotland. Our approach is to develop anti-sectarian activity through partnerships which bring together the organisations working in this area to co-ordinate effort and work together to deliver initiatives. Specifically I have established the Scottish Working Group on Unacceptable Behaviour which brings together voluntary and non-governmental organisations working in this area.

  The Working Group includes Sense Over Sectarianism; Nil by Mouth; Learning and Teaching Scotland; the Iona Community; YouthLink Scotland; Young Scot, and Show Racism the Red Card as well as representation from the Scottish Government. The members of the Working Group have been supporting the redevelopment of the on-line anti-sectarian resource Sectarianism: Don’t Give It, Don’t Take It and are helping to shape a programme of activity to tackle abusive behaviour, including sectarianism, in football.

Social Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards had underspent on mental health services as of 31 December 2009.

Shona Robison: No specific budget has been allocated to the NHS boards for Mental Health Services. All NHS boards receive and annual allocation of funds. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including mental health services. We do not have information regarding any underspend on this service.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what hourly rates are used by each local authority when determining direct payments for social care.

Shona Robison: We do not collect this information centrally. In line with our guidance, it is for local authorities to determine the direct payment rate. This ensures that local authorities can take into account local conditions and workforce considerations. 

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to local authorities on the hourly rates to be used in determining the level of direct payments for social care packages.

Shona Robison: Scottish Government’s National Guidance on Self-directed Support advises that direct payment packages should meet the cost of providing a service which is of an equivalent standard to that which the local authority would provide. This means that a direct payment package to purchase a service from a provider should take into account the range of hourly rates for day, night, weekend, bank and local holiday and emergency cover.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the variation in hourly rates applied to direct payments for social care across local authorities.

Shona Robison: In determining a direct payment rate, local authorities take into account local conditions and workforce considerations. This inevitably leads to variation in direct payment rates across local authorities.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Building

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the figure for the approximate current energy use per m2 of floor area in the Parliament’s energy performance certificate is based on theoretical models of the potential performance of the building.

Alex Johnstone: Yes. This has been calculated in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of the figure for the energy usage of the Parliament in 2007-08 being approximately 300kWh/m2 as derived from figures appearing in its environmental annual report and energy performance certificate, when it plans to have its energy performance certificate reassessed.

Alex Johnstone: In accordance with The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 the Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the reason is for the assessment of the energy usage of the Parliament building for 2007-08 being twice the figure on its energy performance certificate.

Alex Johnstone: The Energy Performance Certificate contains an asset energy rating in accordance with The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008. The rating on the certificate is not a predicted usage rating. 

  The Parliament is used for an extended amount of time each day and contains specialist equipment. For example, this usage occurs due to events, visitors and broadcasting and IT requirements. The energy usage is reflected in the annual report. 

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what percentage of its future maintenance costs will need to be used to upgrade the building to reduce overall energy consumption.

Alex Johnstone: A Carbon Management Plan is currently being developed in conjunction with The Carbon Trust. As part of the Carbon Management Plan costs have been estimated and budgetary provision is available for 2010-11 to undertake energy efficiency improvements. 

  The maintenance budget could be used in circumstances where there is an identifiable maintenance requirement which would generate energy savings. For example, when a piece of equipment requires replacement and a more energy efficient item is available which meets requirements this would be purchased.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, given the potential additional energy costs associated with wrongly rated energy performance certificates, what its position is on the ability of commercial organisations to rely on the accuracy of information in building energy performance certificates when making decisions regarding locating or relocating their businesses.

Alex Johnstone: The energy rating contained in the Energy Performance Certificate has been produced in accordance with The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 approved by this Parliament. 

  It is not for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to comment on the position of commercial organisations.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the environmental features are in the Parliament building and what percentage reduction of energy usage they contribute.

Alex Johnstone: The Scottish Parliament has a number of environmental features including natural ventilation, energy efficient lighting including LED’s, borehole water serving the toilets and a combined heat and power plant (CHP). These features serve to reduce energy use and contribute to the efficient use of energy. For example during winter the CHP generates approximately 5% of the electricity requirements thereby reducing the electricity consumed from the national grid.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, given the statements in the BREEAM reports that domestic hot water in the Parliament building would be provided by solar panels backed up by gas-fired water heaters, what the percentage split of provision has been in each of the last five years.

Alex Johnstone: The solar panels were used to pre-heat hot water in Queensberry House and the Canongate buildings exclusively. The solar panels were not designed or intended to be used to heat water else where in the Parliament. 

  The solar panels may have contributed towards a water quality issue in the buildings they serve and have currently been isolated. An examination is being undertaken on how best to use the solar panels.